Tradescantia JC Weguelin

The Tradescantia hybrid 'JC Weguelin' is a pretty and vigorous Spider Lily that stands out mainly for its very long flowering period with large light blue-violet flowers. This hardy and carefree perennial can tolerate brief periods of drought, but thrives best in moist and semi-shaded conditions, or along the edge of a pond.

'JC Weguelin' is a hybrid of Tradescantia with origins in both Americas (Tradescantia ohiensis, T.subaspera, T virginiana). It belongs to the family of Commelinaceae. This vigorous variety forms an upright clump 50cm (20in) tall and also spreads 50cm (20in) wide. Its green foliage, resembling that of grasses, emerges in spring and develops into a dense clump. Flowering begins in June and lasts throughout the summer. The flowers are flat, light blue-violet and bright, almost transparent, enhanced by contrasting yellow stamens. These flowers, unusual in their simplicity, are very pure in colour, and of a good size, but each flower is short-lived. They bloom in pairs and are carried in terminal cymes at the top of erect stems. Each flower only lives for a few hours, but they continuously renew themselves above the foliage, from June to September.

Easy to grow and maintain, you can plant Tradescantia andersoniana 'JC Weguelin' in humus-rich, moist to wet soil. This plant prefers a semi-shaded exposure. In full sun, regular watering will be necessary. In a moist rockery, at the base of a shaded wall, in woodland areas, or even in borders, its shiny foliage and blue flowers will brighten up any small shady areas, alongside saxifrages and tiarellas. This perennial will thrive on the banks of streams or ponds.